Word was spreading quickly already Thursday night in the Muskegon area about the group of Muskegon-area motorcyclists involved in the tragic accident in Wisconsin during the Muskegon Motorcycle Gang's annual “Bridge Run.”

One man died and eight others were injured when a car barreled into the group of 12 motorcycles on a rural stretch of U.S. 151 near the town of Taycheedah, Wis., according to the Fond du Lac County Sheriff's Office.

It wasn't clear if the person who died in the crash was a Muskegon native.

Friends from the Muskegon Recreation Club, where the Muskegon Motorcycle Gang met regularly, said the group was taking part in the annual “Bridge Run” to the Mackinac Bridge and back.

The group of 12 left on Thursday to take the Lake Express ferry across Lake Michigan to Milwaukee and travel north through Wisconsin to the Mackinac Bridge. They planned to meet there with another group of motorcyclists planning to leave Muskegon on Friday and head to the Mackinac Bridge through Michigan, according to friends.

Instead, some of the uninjured and less seriously injured motorcyclists are planning to return home on Friday.

Friends are planning a vigil and prayer service for 6:30 p.m. Friday at Heritage Landing in Muskegon to honor those involved in the accident.

Details released by Wisconsin officials indicate the vehicle that struck them was at fault.

The dozen motorcycles were traveling northbound on U.S. 151 near the town of Taycheedah, Wis., just before 3 p.m. Thursday when a southbound car crossed the centerline and slammed into 10 of the 12.

One of the motorcyclists died at the scene. Three other motorcyclists were critically injured and airlifted from the scene, according to a press release.

The driver of the car, a 25-year-old man from Calumet County, Wis., had to be extricated from his car and also was airlifted to a Fond du Lac hospital with life threatening injuries, police said.

Five other motorcyclists were transported to a Wisconsin hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries. Police say all of the motorcyclists were wearing helmets and eye protection.

A Chronicle reporter attempted to reach someone early today at the MMG about the crash. An email wasn't immediately returned.